Human DNA mismatch repair protein

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses three human DNA repair proteins and DNA (RNA) encoding such proteins. The DNA repair proteins may be produced by recombinant DNA techniques. One of the human DNA repair proteins, hmlh1, has been mapped on chromosome 3. The polynucleotide sequences of DNA repair proteins may be used for diagnosis of a hereditary susceptibility to cancer.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/187,757, filed on Jan. 27, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,606.

This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotide sequences, polypeptides encoded by such sequences, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, as well as the production of such polynucleotides and polypeptides. More particularly, the polypeptides of the present invention are three human DNA mismatch repair proteins, HMLH1, HMLH2, and HMLH3.

In both procaryotes and eucaryotes, DNA mismatch repair plays a prominent role in the correction of errors made during DNA replication and genetic recombination. The E.coli methyl-directed DNA mismatch repair system is the best understood DNA mismatch repair system to date. In E.coli, this repair pathway involves the products of the mutator genes mutS, mutL, mutH, and uvrD. Mutants of any one of these genes will reveal a mutator phenotype. MutS is a DNA mismatch-binding protein which initiates this repair process, UvrD is a DNA helicase and MutH is a latent endonuclease that incises at the unmethylated strands of hemimethylated GATC sequence. MutL protein is believed to recognize and bind to the mismatch-DNA-MutS-MutH complex to enhance the endonuclease activity of MutH protein. The proteins of the present invention are human mutL homologs, namely, HMLH1, HMLH2 and HMLH3. After the unmethylated DNA strand is cut by the MutH, single-stranded DNA-binding protein, DNA polymerase III, exonuclease I and DNA ligase are required to complete this repair process (Modrich P., Annu. Rev. Genetics, 25:229-53 [1991]).

Elements of the E.coli MutLHS system appears to be conserved during evolution in procaryotes and eucaryotes. Genetic study analysis suggests that Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a mismatch repair system similar to the bacterial MutLHS system. In S. cerevisiae, at least two MutL homologs, PMS1 and MLH1, have been reported. Mutation of either one of them leads to a mitotic mutator phenotype (Prolla et al, Mol. Cell. Biol. 14:407-415 [1994]). At least three MutS homologs have been found in S.cerevisiae, MSH1, MSH2, and MSH3. Disruption of the msh2 gene (affects nuclear mutation rates. Mutants S. cerevisae msh2, pms1, and mlh1 have found to exhibit increased rates of expansion and contraction of dinucleotide repeat sequences (Strand et al., Nature, 365:274-276 [1993]).

It has been reported by various laboratories that a number of human tumors such as lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and stomach cancer show instability of repeated DNA sequences (Han et al., Cancer, 53:5087-5089 [1993]; Thibodeau et al., Science 260:816-819 [1993]; Risinger et al., Cancer 53:5100-5103 [1993]). This phenomenon suggested that lack of the DNA mismatch repair is probably the cause of these tumors. Little is known about the DNA mismatch repair system in humans until recently, the human homolog of the MutS was cloned and found to be responsible for hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), (Fishel et al., Cell, 75:1027-1038 [1993] and Leach et al., Cell, 75:1215-1225 [1993]). The HNPCC was first linked to a locus at chromosome 2p16 which causes dinucleotide instability. It was then demonstrated that a DNA mismatch repair protein (MutS) homolog, was located at this locus and C→T transitional mutations at several conserved regions were specifically observed in HNPCC patients.

It has previously been demonstrated that hereditary colon cancer can result from mutations in several loci. Familial adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC) linked to a gene on chromosome 5 is responsible for a small minority of hereditary colon cancer. Hereditary colon cancer is also associated with Gardner's syndrome, Turcot's syndrome, Peutz-Jaeghers syndrome and juvenile polyposis coli. In addition, hereditary non polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)may be involved in 5% of all human colon cancer. All of the different types of familial colon cancer have been shown to be transmitted by a dominant autosomal mode of inheritance.

In addition to localization of HNPCC in two families to the short arm of chromosome 2, a second locus has been linked to a predisposition to HNPCC (Lindholm et al., Nature Genetics, 5:279-282, 1993). A strong linkage was demonstrated between a polymorphic marker on the short arm of chromosome 3 and the disease locus. It was also suggested that these families show signs of a general defect in the DNA repair process.

This finding suggests that mutations on various DNA mismatch repair proteins probably play crucial role in causing human hereditary diseases and cancers such as lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and stomach cancer.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided three novel polypeptides which are human cDNA mismatch repair proteins, sometimes hereinafter referred to as HMLH1, HMLH2 and HMLH3, as well as analogs and derivatives thereof. The polypeptides of the present invention are of human origin.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a polynucleotide (DNA) which encodes such polypeptide.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for using the polypeptide or DNA sequence encoding such polypeptide for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

These and other aspects of the present invention should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-F show the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) and deduced amino acid sequence for the human DNA repair protein HMLH1 (SEQ ID NO:2). The amino acids are represented by their standard one-letter abbreviations.

FIG. 1G is a partial DNA sequence for the human DNA repair protein HMLH2 (SEQ ID NO:3).

FIG. 1H is a partial DNA sequence for the human DNA repair protein HMLH3 (SEQ ID NO:4).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a DNA sequence (and corresponding RNA sequence) as set forth in FIGS. 1A-F (SEQ ID NO:1) of the drawings and/or DNA (RNA) sequences encoding the same polypeptide as the sequence of FIGS. 1A-F (SEQ ID NO:1) of the drawings, as well as fragment portions, derivatives, analogs and all allelic variants of such sequences.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a DNA sequence (and corresponding RNA sequence) which encodes for a human DNA repair protein which DNA sequence contains the partial sequence of FIG. 1G (SEQ ID NO:3).

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a DNA sequence (and corresponding RNA sequence) which encodes for a human DNA repair protein which DNA sequence contains the partial sequence of FIG. 1H (SEQ ID NO:4).

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a polynucleotide which encodes the same polypeptides as the polynucleotide of a cDNA clone deposited as ATCC Deposit number 75649, deposited on Jan. 25, 1994 or ATCC Deposit number 75651, deposited on Jan. 25, 1994 or ATCC Deposit number 75650, deposited on Jan. 25, 1994 and/or fragments analogs, derivatives or allelic variants of such polynucleotide. The address of the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Depository referred to herein is: American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209.

The address of the ATCC depository referred to herein is ATCC, Rockville, Md. 20852 USA.

ATCC Deposit Number 75649 is a cDNA clone which contains the full length sequence encoding the human DNA repair protein referred to herein as HMLH1; ATCC Deposit Number 75651 is a cDNA clone containing the full length DNA sequence encoding the human DNA repair protein referred to herein as HMLH2; ATCC Deposit Number 75650 is a cDNA clone containing the full length DNA sequence referred to herein as HMLH3.

In the case of DNA, DNA may be single stranded or double stranded, and if single stranded the DNA sequence may be the “sense” strand shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1) or the one complementary thereto.

The polynucleotide (DNA or RNA, preferably DNA) includes at least the portion coding for the polypeptide, which coding portion may be the same as that in the deposited clone or may be different than that in the deposited clone provide that it encodes for the same polypeptide or an allelic variant thereof. The coding portion preferably encodes at least the nature form of the protein of the present invention.

The present invention further relates to polynucleotide sequences which hybridize under stringent conditions to the herein above-described polynucleotide sequences. As herein used, the term “stringent conditions” means hybridization will occur if there is at least 95% and preferably at least 97% identity between the segments. Thus, the present invention includes DNA (RNA) sequences encoding allelic variant form's of the peptide encoded by the DNA of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1). Thus, the present invention provides isolated DNA (RNA) encoding for a naturally occurring human polypeptide which is a human DNA repair protein as well as allelic variants thereof. The DNA (RNA) is preferably provided in a purified and isolated form.

The present invention further relates to three polypeptides which are three human DNA repair proteins and which, have the structure shown in FIGS. 1A-F (SEQ ID NO:1), 1G (SEQ ID NO:3), and 1H (SEQ ID NO:4), as well as allelic variants thereof, and analogs, fragments and derivatives thereof which have the same function as the naturally occurring polypeptide.

The present invention further relates to a polypeptide encoded by the DNA contained in one of the clones deposited as ATCC number's 75649, 75651 or 75650 on Jan. 25, 1994 as well as analogs, fragments, derivatives and allelic variants thereof.

These deposits will be maintained under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-Organisms for purposes of Patent Procedure. These deposits are provided merely as convenience to those of skill in the art and are not an admission that a deposit is required under 35 U.S.C. 112. The sequence of the polynucleotides contained in the deposited materials, as well as the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded thereby, are incorporated herein by reference and are controlling in the event of any conflict with description of sequences herein. A license may be required to make, use or sell the deposited materials, and no such license is hereby granted.

A polypeptide of the present invention is preferably provided in an isolated form, and preferably is purified.

In a preferred embodiment, the human DNA repair proteins are full length mature human proteins or an allelic or glycosylated variant thereof. The polynucleotide may also encode a preprotein which is processed and secreted from mammalian cells as the mature protein.

The polynucleotide sequence of the present invention may encode for the mature form of the polypeptide or may encode for the protein with a leader sequence. For example, the desired DNA sequence may be fused in the same reading frame to a DNA sequence which aids in the expression and secretion of the polypeptide, for example, a leader sequence which acts as a secretory sequence for controlling transportation of the polypeptide from the cell of the host. The protein having a leader sequence is a preprotein and may have the leader sequence cleaved by the host cell to form the mature form of the protein. The polynucleotide of the present invention may also be fused in frame to a marker sequence which allows for purification of the polypeptide of the present invention, for example, a hexa-histidine tag.

Thus, the polypeptide(s) of the present invention may be the mature form of the human DNA repair protein of the present invention; or may be in the form of a preprotein or prepolypeptide wherein the human DNA repair protein includes a leader or signal sequence; or may be in the form of a fusion protein wherein additional amino acids which aid in, for example, purification of the polypeptide are fused to the mature or preprotein at either the amino (NH₂) or carboxyl (COOH) terminus thereof.

As herein above indicated, the present invention also includes variants of the polypeptide which is encoded by the DNA of the drawings 1 or and variants of the DNA contained in the deposited clones, which retains the DNA repair activity of such a polypeptide. The variant may be a substitutional variant, or an insertion variant or a deletional variant. Such variants can be naturally occurring allelic variants such as for example, those with different glycosylation patterns or substitution at the amino acid level or deletion at the amino acid level.

A polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the present invention may be obtained from one or more libraries prepared from one of the following tissues: heart, lung, prostate, spleen, liver, gall bladder, fetal brain, and testis. The polynucleotides of HMLH1, HMLH2 and HMLH3 are from human gall bladder, human T-cell lymphoma and human endometrial tumor cDNA libraries. In addition, six cDNA clones which are identical to the hmlh1 at N-terminal ends were obtained from human cerebellum, 8-week embryo, fetal heart, HSC172 cells and Jurket cell cDNA libraries. A second hmlh3 gene has also been found in human Supt cell cDNA library. All three human DNA repair genes share significant homology to E. coli and yeast mutL protein at the amino acid level. The first 200 amino acids of hmlh1 has 44% identity and 64% similarity to E. Coli mutL. The partial HMLH2 gene has 37% identity and 65% similarity to yeast pms1 on an amino acid basis. The partial HMLH3 gene has 55% identity and 79% similarity to yeast pms1 genee on an amino acid basis. The HMLH1 contains an open reading frame of 756 amino acids encoding for an 85 kD protein which exhibit homology to bacteria and yeast MutL protein. The coding sequence of HMLH1 has been derived from the cDNA clone obtained from the gall bladder. However, the 5′ non-translational region was from the cDNA clone obtained from the fetal heart for the purpose of extending the non-translational region to design the oligonucleotides.

Host cells are transformed with the expression vectors of this invention and cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for including promoters, selecting transformants or expressing the hmlh1 to complement the host mutator phenotype.

“Transformation” means introducing DNA into an organism so that the DNA is replicable, either as an extrachromosomal element or by chromosomal integration. Unless indicated otherwise, the method used herein for transformation of the host cells is the method of Graham, F. and Van der Eb, A., Virology 52:456-457 (1973). However, other methods for introducing DNA into cells such as by nuclear injection or by protoplast fusion may also be used. If prokaryotic cells or cells which contain substantial cell wall constructions are used, the preferred method of transfection is calcium treatment using calcium chloride as described by Cohen, F. N. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 69:2110 (1972).

“Transfection” refers to the introduction of DNA into a host cell whether or not any coding sequences are ultimately expressed. Cells do not naturally take up DNA. Thus, a variety of technical “tricks” have been utilized to facilitate gene transfer. Numerous methods of transfection are known to the ordinarily skilled artisan, for example, CaPO₄ and electro-poration. Transformation of the host cell is the indicia of successful transfection.

The term “isolated” means that the material is removed from its original environment (e.g., the natural environment if it is naturally occurring). For example, a naturally-occurring polynucleotide or polypeptide present in a living animal is not isolated, but the same polynucleotide or DNA or polypeptide, separated from some or all of the coexisting materials in the natural system, is isolated. Such polynucleotide could be part of a vector and/or such polynucleotide or polypeptide could be part of a composition, and still be isolated in that such vector or composition is not part of its natural environment.

The polynucleotide of the present invention may be employed for producing a polypeptide by recombinant techniques. Thus, for example, the polynucleotide sequence may be included in any one of a variety of vectors or plasmids for expressing a polypeptide. Such vectors include chromosomal, nonchromosomal and synthetic DNA sequences, e.g., derivatives of SV40; bacterial plasmids; phage DNA'S; yeast plasmids; vectors derived from combinations of plasmids and phage DNAS, viral DNA such as vaccinia, adenovirus, fowl pox virus, and pseudorabies.

The appropriate DNA sequence may be inserted into the vector by a variety of procedures. In general, the DNA sequence is inserted into an appropriate restriction endonuclease site(s) by procedures known in the art. Such procedures and others are deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art.

The DNA sequence in the expression vector is operatively linked to an appropriate expression control sequence(s) (promoter) to direct mRNA synthesis. As representative examples of such promoters, there may be mentioned: LTR or SV40 promoter, the E. coli, lac or trp, the phage lambda PL promoter and other promoters known to control expression of genes in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells or their viruses. The expression vector also contains a ribosome binding site for translation initiation and a transcription terminator. The vector may also include appropriate sequences for amplifying expression.

In addition, the expression vectors preferably contain a gene to provide a phenotypic trait for selection of transformed host cells such as dihydrofolate reductase or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, or such as tetracycline or ampicillin resistance in E. coli.

The vector containing the appropriate DNA sequence as hereinabove described, as well as an appropriate promoter or control sequence, may be employed to transform an appropriate host to permit the host to express the protein. As representative examples of appropriate hosts, there may be mentioned: bacterial cells, such as E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium; fungal cells, such as yeast; animal cells such as Cos-7 cells, CHO or Bowes melanoma; plant cells, etc. The selection of an appropriate host is deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

More particularly, the present invention also includes recombinant constructs comprising one or more of the sequences as broadly described above. The constructs comprise a vector, such as a plasmid or viral vector, into which a sequence of the invention has been inserted, in a forward or reverse orientation. In a preferred aspect of this embodiment, the construct further comprises regulatory sequences, including, for example, a promoter, operably linked to the sequence. Large numbers of suitable vectors and promoters are known to those of skill in the art, and are commercially available. The following vectors are provided by way of example. Bacterial: pQE-9 (Qiagen), pBs, phagescript, pD10, PsiXI74, pbluescript SK, pBsKS, PNH8A, PNE16A, PNH18A, PNH46A (Stratagene); Ptrc99a, PKK223-3, PKK233-3, PDR540, PRIT5 (Pharmacia). Eukaryotic: pWLneo, PSV2CAT, POG44, PXTI, pSG (Stratagene) PSVK3, PBPV, PMSG, PSVL (Pharmacia). Also, any other plasmids and vectors may be used as long as they are replicable and viable in the host.

Promoter regions can be selected from any desired gene using CAT (chloramphenicol acetyl transferase) vectors or other vectors with selectable markers. Two appropriate vectors are PKK232-8 and PCM7. Particular named bacterial promoters include lacd, lacz, T3, T7, gpt, lambda PR and trc. Eukaryotic promoters include CMV immediate early, HSV thymidine kinase, early and late SV40, LTRs from retrovirus, and mouse metallothionein-I. Selection of the appropriate vector and promoter is well within the level of ordinary skill in the art.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to host cells containing the above-described construct. The host cell can be a higher eukaryotic cell, such as a mammalian cell, or a lower eukaryotic cell, such as a yeast cell, or the host cell can be a prokaryotic cell, such as a bacterial cell. Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE, dextran mediated transfection, or electroporation (Davis, L., Dibner, M., Battey, I., Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, 1986).

The constructs in host cells can be used in a conventional manner to produce the gene product coded by the recombinant sequence. Alternatively, the encoded polypeptide can be synthetically produced by conventional peptide synthesizers.

Mature proteins can be expressed in mammalian cells, yeast, bacteria, or other cells under the control of appropriate promoters. Cell-free translation systems can also be employed to produce such proteins using RNAs derived from the DNA constructs of the present invention. Appropriate cloning and expression vectors for use with prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts are described by Sambrook, et al., Molecular Cloning,: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., (1989), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Transcription of a DNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention by higher eukaryotes is increased by inserting an enhancer sequence into the vector. Enhancers are cis-acting elements of DNA, usually about from 10 to 300 bp, that act on a promoter to increase its transcription. Examples include the SV40 enhancer on the late side of the replication origin (bp 100 to 270), a cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer on the late side of the replication origin, and adenovirus enhancers.

Generally, recombinant expression vectors will include origins of replication and selectable markers permitting transformation of the host cell, e.g., the ampicillin resistance gene of E. coli and S. cerevisiae TRP1 gene, and a promoter derived from a highly-expressed gene to direct transcription of a downstream structural sequence. Such promoters can be derived from operons encoding glycolytic enzymes such as 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), a-factor, acid phosphatase, or heat shock proteins, among others. The heterologous structural sequence is assembled in appropriate phase with translation initiation and termination sequences, and preferably, a leader sequence capable of directing secretion of translated protein into the periplasmic space or extracellular medium.

Useful expression vectors for bacterial use are constructed by inserting a structural DNA sequence encoding a desired protein together with suitable translation initiation and termination signals in operable reading phase with a functional promoter. The vector will comprise one or more phenotypic selectable markers and an origin of replication to ensure maintenance of the vector and to, if desirable, provide amplification within the host. Suitable prokaryotic hosts for transformation include E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium and various species within the genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, and Staphylococcus, although others may also be employed as a matter of choice.

As a representative but nonlimiting example, useful expression vectors for bacterial use can comprise a selectable marker and bacterial origin of replication derived from commercially available plasmids comprising genetic elements of the well known cloning vector PBR322 (ATCC 37017). Such commercial vectors include, for example, PKK223-3 (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals, Uppsala, Sweden) and GEM1 (Promega Biotec, Madison, Wis., USA). These PBR322 “backbone” sections are combined with an appropriate promoter and the structural sequence to be expressed.

Following transformation of a suitable host strain and growth of the host strain to an appropriate cell density, the selected promoter is derepressed by appropriate means (e.g., temperature shift or chemical induction) and cells are cultured for an additional period. Cells are typically harvested by centrifugation, disrupted by physical or chemical means, and the iresulting crude extract retained for further purification.

The repair proteins of the present invention may be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by methods used heretofore, e.g. (Bende et al., Nucleic acid research, 19:1549-1555 [1991]), including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation or exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography (e.g., using DNA or nucleotides on a solid support), hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. Moreover, reverse-phase HPLC and chromatography using anti-mutL antibodies are useful for the purification of human mutL homologs.

Various mammalian cell culture systems can also be employed to express recombinant protein. Examples of mammalian expression systems include the COS-7 lines of monkey kidney fibroblasts, described by Gluzman, Cell, 23:175 (1981), and other cell lines capable of expressing a compatible vector, for example, the C127, 3T3, CHO, HeLa and BHK cell lines. Mammalian expression vectors will comprise an origin of replication, a suitable promoter and enhancer, and also any necessary ribosome binding sites, polyadenylation site, splice donor and acceptor sites, transcriptional termination sequences, and 5′ flanking nontranscribed sequences. DNA sequences derived from the SV40 viral genome, for example, SV40 origin, early promoter, enhancer, splice, and polyadenylation sites may be used to provide the required nontranscribed genetic elements.

Recombinant protein produced in bacterial culture is usually isolated by initial extraction from cell pellets, followed by one or more salting-outs, aqueous ion exchange or size exclusion chromatography steps. Protein refolding steps can be used, as necessary, in completing configuration of the mature protein. Finally, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be employed for final purification steps. Microbial cells employed in expression of proteins can be disrupted by any convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or use of cell lysing agents.

The polypeptide of the present invention may be a naturally purified product, or a product of chemical synthetic procedures, or produced by recombinant techniques from a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host (for example, by bacterial, yeast, higher plant, insect and mammalian cells in culture) of a polynucleotide sequence of the present invention. Depending upon the host employed in a recombinant production procedure, the polypeptides of the present invention may be glycosylated with mammalian or other eukaryotic carbohydrates or may be non-glycosylated. Polypeptides of the invention may also include an initial methionine amino acid residue (at position 1).

In addition to naturally occurring allelic forms of the polypeptide, the present invention also embraces analogs and fragments thereof. Thus, for example, one or more of the amino acid residues of the polypeptide may be replaced by conserved amino acid residues.

DNA mismatch can be generated during DNA replication and recombination. If these mutations were left unrepaired, mutated protein would result in altered or lost function of the normal protein. It has been found, for example, mutation on the human DNA mismatch repair gene hMLH2 is responsible for the hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (Fishel et al., Cell, 75:1027-1038 [1993] and Leach et al., Cell, 75:1215-1225 [1993]).

Each of the cDNA sequences identified herein or a portion thereof can be used in numerous ways as polynucleotide reagents. The sequences can be used as diagnostic probes for the presence of a specific mRNA in a particular cell type. In addition, these sequences can be used as diagnostic probes suitable for use in genetic linkage analysis (polymorphisms).

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for determining susceptibility to cancer, in particular, a hereditary cancer. Thus, a mutation in a human repair protein, which is a human homolog of mutL and in particular those described herein, indicates a susceptibility to cancer, and the nucleic acid sequences encoding such human homologs may be employed in an assay for ascertaining such susceptibility. Thus, for example, the assay may be employed to determine a mutation in a human DNA repair protein as herein described, such as a deletion, truncation, insertion, frame shift, etc., with such mutation being indicative of a susceptibility to cancer.

A mutation may be ascertained for example, by a DNA sequencing assay. Tissue samples including but not limited to blood samples are obtained from a human patient. The samples are processed by methods known in the art to capture the RNA. First strand cDNA is synthesized from the RNA samples by adding an oligonucleotide primer consisting of polythymidine residues which hybridize to the polyadenosine stretch present on the mRNA's. Reverse transcriptase and deoxynucleotides are added to allow synthesis of the first strand cDNA. Primer sequences are synthesized based on the DNA sequence of the DNA repair protein of the invention. The primer sequence is generally comprised of 15 to 30 and preferably from 18 to 25 consecutive bases of the human DNA repair gene. Table 1 sets forth an illustrative example of oligonucleotide primer sequences based on HMLH1. The primers are used in pairs (one “sense” strand and one “anti-sense”) to amplify the cDNA from the patients by the PCR method such that three overlapping fragments of the patient's cDNA's for such protein are generated. Table 1 also shows a list of preferred primer sequence pairs. The overlapping fragments are then subjected to dideoxynucleotide sequencing using a set of primer sequences synthesized to correspond to the base pairs of the cDNA's at a point approximately every 200 base pairs throughout the gene. Table 2 lists representative examples of oligonucleotide primer sequences (sense and anti-sense) which may be used, and preferably the entire set of primer sequences are used for sequencing to determine where a mutation in the patient DNA repair protein may be. The primer sequences may be from 15 to 30 bases in length and are preferably between 18 and 25 bases in length. The sequence information determined from the patient is then compared to non-mutated sequences to determine if any mutations are present.

TABLE 1 Primer Sequences used to amplify gene region using PCR Start Site and Name Arrangement Sequence  758 sense-(-41)* GTTGAACATCTAGACGTCTC (SEQ ID NO: 5,   1 to 20 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1319 sense-8 TCGTGGCAGGGGTTATTCG (SEQ ID NO: 6,  49 to 67 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1321 sense-619 CTACCCAATGCCTCAACCG (SEQ ID NO: 7,  660 to 678 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1322 sense-677 GAGAACTGATAGAAATTGGATG (SEQ ID NO: 8,  718 to 739 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1314 sense-1548 GGGACATGAGGTTCTCCG (SEQ ID NO: 9, 1589 to 1606 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1323 sense-1593 GGGCTGTGTGAATCCTCAG (SEQ ID NO: 10, 1634 to 1652 of SEQ ID NO: 1)  773 anti-53 CGGTTCACCACTGTCTCGTC (SEQ ID NO: 11, complementary to 75 to 94 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1313 anti-971 TCCAGGATGCTCTCCTCG (SEQ ID NO: 12, complementary to 995 to 1012 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1320 anti-1057 CAAGTCCTGGTAGCAAAGTC (SEQ ID NO: 13, complementary to 1079 to 1098 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1315 anti-1760 ATGGCAAGGTCAAAGAGCG (SEQ ID NO: 14, complementary to 1783 to 1801 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1316 anti-1837 CAACAATGTATTCAGXAAGTCC (SEQ ID NO: 15, complementary to 1857 to 1878 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1317 anti-2340 TTGATACAACACTTTGTATCG (SEQ ID NO: 16, complementary to 2361 to 2381 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 1318 anti-2415 GGAATACTATCAGAAGGCAAG *Numbers correspond to location along nucleotide sequence of FIGS. 1A-F where ATG is number 1. Preferred primer sequences pairs:  758, 1313 1319, 1320  660, 1909  725, 1995 1680, 2536 1727, 2610

TABLE 2 Primer Sequences Used to Sequence the Amplified Fragments Start Site and Name Number Arrangement Sequence 5282 seq01 sense-377* ACAGAGCAAGTTACTCAGATG (SEQ ID NO: 18,  418 to 438 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5283 seq02 sense-552 AGTACACAATGCAGGCATTAG (SEQ ID NO: 19,  593 to 613 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5284 seq03 sense-904 AATGTGGATGTTAATGTGCAC (SEQ ID NO: 20,  945 to 965 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5285 seq04 sense-1096 CTGACCTCGTCTTCCTAC (SEQ ID NO: 21, 1137 to 1155 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5286 seq05 sense-1276 CAGCAAGATGAGGAGATGC (SEQ ID NO: 22, 1317 to 1335 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5287 seq06 sense-1437 GGAAATGGTGGAAGATGATTC (SEQ ID NO: 23, 1478 to 1498 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5288 seq07 sense-1645 CTTCTCAACACCAAGC (SEQ ID NO: 24, 1686 to 1701 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5289 seq08 sense-1895 GAAATTGATGAGGAAGGGAAC (SEQ ID NO: 25, 1936 to 1956 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5295 seq09 sense-1921 CTTCTGATTGACAACTATGTGC (SEQ ID NO: 26, 1962 to 1983 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5294 seq10 sense-2202 CACAGAAGATGGAAATATCCTG (SEQ ID NO: 27, 2243 to 2264 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5293 seq11 sense-2370 GTGTTGGTAGCACTTAAGAC (SEQ ID NO: 28, 2411 to 2430 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5291 seq12 anti-525 TTTCCCATATTCTTCACTTG (SEQ ID NO: 29, comple- mentary to 547 to 566 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5290 seq13 anti-341 GTAACATGAGCCACATGGC (SEQ ID NO: 30, comple- mentary to 364 to 382 of SEQ ID NO: 1) 5292 seq14 anti-46 CCACTGTCTCGTCCAGCCG (SEQ ID NO: 31, comple- mentary to 69 to 87 of SEQ ID NO: 1) *Numbers correspond to location along nucleotide sequence of FIGS. 1A-F where ATG is number 1.

In another embodiment, the primer sequences from Table 2 could be used in the PCR method to amplify a mutated region. The region could be sequenced and used as a diagnostic to predict a predisposition to such mutated genes.

Alternatively, the assay to detect mutations in the hMLH1 gene may be performed by generating cDNA from the RNA and expressing the protein encoded by the cDNA by in vitro transcription and translation (see example 4, page 28). The expressed protein may then be analyzed by electrophoresis on an SDS, polyacrylamide or other gel. Also electrophoresed is a “normal” hMLH1 gene product. The gel is then dried and subjected to autoradiography and the suspected mutated gene product and “normal” gene product are analyzed and any differences in the banding pattern is indicative of a mutation in the cDNA. The gene production can also be detected by using hMLH1 antibody by Western Blot analysis.

Accordingly, the mutations in the genes of the present invention may be determined directly by sequencing or indirectly by examining an expressed protein.

The polypeptide of the present invention may also be employed in accordance with the present invention by expression of such polypeptide in vivo, which is often referred to as “gene therapy.”

Thus, for example, cells may be transduced with a polynucleotide (DNA or RNA) encoding the polypeptide ex vivo, with the transduced cells then being provided to a patient to be treated with the polypeptide. Such methods are well-known in the art. For example, cells may be transduced by procedures known in the art by use of a retroviral particle containing RNA encoding the polypeptide of the present invention.

Similarly, transduction of cells may be accomplished in vivo for expression of the polypeptide in vivo for example, by procedures known in the art. As known in the art, a producer cell for producing a retroviral particle containing RNA encoding the polypeptide of the present invention may be administered to a patient for transduction in vivo and expression of the polypeptide in vivo.

These and other methods for administering a polypeptide of the present invention by such methods should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings of the present invention. For example, the expression vehicle for transducing cells may be other than a retroviral particle, for example, an adenovirus.

The sequences of the present invention are also valuable for chromosome identification. The sequence is specifically targeted to and can hybridize with a particular location on an individual human chromosome. Moreover, there is a current need for identifying particular sites on the chromosome. Few chromosome marking reagents based on actual sequence data (repeat polymorphisms) are presently available for marking chromosomal location. The mapping of cDNAs to chromosomes according to the present invention is an important first step in correlating those sequences with genes associated with disease.

Briefly, sequences can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCR primers (preferably 15-25 bp) from the cDNA. Computer analysis of the cDNA is used to rapidly select primers that do not span more than one exon in the genomic DNA, thus complicating the amplification process. These primers are then used for PCR screening of somatic cell hybrids containing individual human chromosomes. Only those hybrids containing the human gene corresponding to the primer will yield an amplified fragment.

PCR mapping of somatic cell hybrids is a rapid procedure for assigning a particular DNA to a particular chromosome. Using the present invention with the same oligonucleotide primers, sublocalization can be achieved with panels of fragments from specific chromosomes or pools of large genomic clones in an analogous manner. Other mapping strategies that can similarly be used to map to its chromosome include hybridization, prescreening with labeled flowsorted chromosomes and preselection by hybridization to construct chromosome specific-cDNA libraries.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a cDNA clone to a metaphase chromosomal spread can be used to provide a precise chromosomal location in one step. This technique can be used with cDNA as short as 500 or 600 bases; however, clones larger than 2,000 bp have a higher likelihood of binding to a unique chromosomal location with sufficient signal intensity for simple detection. FISH requires use of the clone from which the EST was derived, and the longer the better. For example, 2,000 bp is good, 4,000 is better, and more than 4,000 is probably not necessary to get good results a reasonable percentage of the time. For a review of this technique, see Verma et al., Human Chromosomes: a Manual of Basic Techniques, Pergamon Press, New York (1988).

Once a sequence has been mapped to a precise chromosomal location, the physical position of the sequence on the chromosome can be correlated with genetic map data. (Such data are found, for example, in V. McKusick, Mendelian Inheritance in Man (available on line through Johns Hopkins University Welch Medical Library). The relationship between genes and diseases that have been mapped to the same chromosomal region are then identified through linkage analysis (coinheritance of physically adjacent genes).

Next, it is necessary to determine the differences in the cDNA or genomic sequence between affected and unaffected individuals. If a mutation is observed in some or all of the affected individuals but not in any normal individuals, then the mutation is likely to be the causative agent of the disease.

With current resolution of physical mapping and genetic mapping techniques, a cDNA precisely localized to a chromosomal region associated with the disease could be one of between 50 and 500 potential causative genes. (This assumes 1 megabase mapping resolution and one gene per 20 kb).

Comparison of affected and unaffected individuals generally involves first looking for structural alterations in the chromosomes, such as deletions or translocations that are visible from chromosome spreads or detectable using PCR based on that cDNA sequence. Ultimately, complete sequencing of genes from several individuals is required to confirm the presence of a mutation and to distinguish mutations from polymorphisms.

The protein, its fragments or other derivatives, or analogs thereof, or cells expressing them can be used as an immunogen to produce antibodies thereto. These antibodies can be, for example, polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, single chain, Fab fragments, or the product of an Fab expression library. Various procedures known in the art may be used for the production of polyclonal antibodies.

Antibodies generated against the polypeptide corresponding to a sequence of the present invention can be obtained by direct injection of the polypeptide into an animal or by administering the polypeptide to an animal, preferably a nonhuman. The antibody so obtained will then bind the polypeptide itself. In this manner, even a sequence encoding only a fragment of the polypeptide can be used to generate antibodies binding the whole native polypeptide. Such antibodies can then be used to isolate the polypeptide from tissue expressing that polypeptide. Moreover, a panel of such antibodies, specific to a large number of polypeptides, can be used to identify and differentiate such tissue.

For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, any technique which provides antibodies produced by continuous cell line cultures can be used. Examples include the hybridoma technique (Kohler and Milstein, 1975, Nature, 256:495-497), the trioma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kohler et al., 1983, Immunology Today 4:72), and the EBV-hybridoma technique to produce human monoclonal antibodies (Cole, et al., 1985, in Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp. 77-96).

Techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies to immunogenic polypeptide products of this invention.

The antibodies can be used in methods relating to the localization and activity of the protein sequences of the invention, e.g., for imaging these proteins, measuring levels thereof in appropriate physiological samples and the like.

The present invention will be further described with reference to the following examples, however, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to such examples. All parts or amounts, unless otherwise specified, are by weight.

In order to facilitate understanding of the following examples certain frequently occurring methods and/or terms will be described.

“Plasmids” are designated by a lower case p preceded and/or followed by capital letters and/or numbers. The starting plasmids herein are either commercially available, publicly available on an unrestricted basis, or can be constructed from available plasmids in accord with published procedures. In addition, equivalent plasmids to those described are known in the art and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

“Digestion” of DNA refers to catalytic cleavage of the DNA with a restriction enzyme that acts only at certain sequences in the DNA. The various restriction enzymes used herein are commercially available and their reaction conditions, cofactors and other requirements were used as would be known to the ordinarily skilled artisan. For analytical purposes, typically 1 μg of plasmid or DNA fragment is used with about 2 units of enzyme in about 20 μl of buffer solution. For the purpose of isolating DNA fragments for plasmid construction, typically 5 to 50 μg of DNA are digested with 20 to 250 units of enzyme in a larger volume. Appropriate buffers and substrate amounts for particular restriction enzymes are specified by the manufacturer. Incubation times of about 1 hour or longer at 37° C. are ordinarily used, but may vary in accordance with the supplier's instructions. After digestion the reaction is electrophoresed directly on an agarose gel to isolate the desired fragment. Size separation of the cleaved fragments is performed using a 0.8-2.0 percent polyagatose gel.

“Oligonucleotides” refers to either a single stranded polydeoxynucleotide or two complementary polydeoxynucleotide strands which may be chemically synthesized. Such synthetic oligonucleotides have no 5′ phosphate and thus will not ligate to another oligonucleotide without adding a phosphate with an ATP in the presence of a kinase. A synthetic oligonucleotide will ligate to a fragment that has not been dephosphorylated.

“Ligation” refers to the process of forming phosphodiester bonds between two double stranded nucleic acid fragments (Maniatis, T., et al., Id., p. 146). Unless otherwise provided, ligation may be accomplished using known buffers and conditions with 10 units to T4 DNA ligase (“ligase”) per 0.5 μg of approximately equimolar amounts of the DNA fragments to be ligated.

EXAMPLE 1 Bacterial Expression of Human DNA Mismatch Repair Protein

The full length DNA sequence encoding for human DNA mismatch repair protein hmlh1 (ATCC #75649) is initially amplified using PCR oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5′ and 3′ end of the DNA sequence to synthesize insertion fragments. The 5′ oligonucleotide primer has the sequence 5′-CGGGATCCATGTCGTTCGTGGCAGGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:32), contains a BamHI restriction enzyme site followed by 18 nucleotides of HMLH1 coding sequence following the initiation cokdon; the 3′ sequence 5′-CTCTAGATTAACACCTCTCAAAGAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:32) contains complementary sequences to XbaI site and is at the end of the gene. The restriction enzyme sites correspond to the restriction enzyme sites on the bacterial expression vector pQE-9. (Qiagen, Inc. 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311) The plasmid vector encodes antibiotic resistance (Amp^(r)), a bacterial origin of replication (ori), an IPTG-regulatable promoter/operator (P/O), a ribosome binding site (RBS), a 6-histidine tag (6-His) and restriction enzyme cloning sites. The pQE-9 vector was digested with BamHI and XbaI and the insertion fragments were then ligated into the pQE-9 vector maintaining the reading frame initiated at the bacterial RBS. The ligation mixture was then used to transform the E. coli strain GW3733 (k-12, argE3 hisG4, LeuB6 proA2 thr-1 ara-1 rpsL31 supE44 tsx-33 mutl218::Tn10). Transformants are identified by their ability to grow on LB plates containing Amp.

Clones containing the desired constructs were grown overnight in liquid culture in LB media supplemented with Amp (100 mg/ml). The O/N culture issued to inoculate a large culture at a ratio of 1:100 to 1:250. The cells were grown to an optical density at 600 nm (O.D⁶⁰⁰) of between 0.4 and 0.6. IPTG (“Isopropyl-B-D-thiogalacto pyranosidel”) is then added to a final concentration of 1 mM. IPTG induces gene expression by inactivating the LacI repressor. Cells are grown an extra 2-4 hours and then harvested by centrifugation. Expression of human mut L homolog 1 is tested by solubilizing a portion of the E. coli and analyzing on a SDS polyacrylamide gel.

Purification of the protein is accomplished by utilization of the hexa-histidine sequence. Following induction of the E. coli pellet is solubilized in 6M guanidine HCl. The protein is purified using a Nickel-Chelate resin column having a high affinity for the hexa-histidine sequence. (Hachule, E. et al., Genetic Engineering, Principles and Methods, 12:87-98, Plenum Press, N.Y. (1990). The column was washed and the protein is eluted at a pH of 5.0. Protein renaturation is accomplished by removing the guanidine HCl from the protein isolate by any one of several protocols. (Jaenicke, R. et al., Protein Structure-A Practical Approach. IRL Press, New York (1990). The purified protein is analyzed by SDS-PAGE.

EXAMPLE 2 Spontaneous Mutation Assay for Detection of the Expression of Human mutL and Complementation to the E.coli mutl

The pQE9hmlh1/GW3733 transformants were subjected to the spontaneous mutation assay. The plasmid vector pQE9 was also transformed to AB1157 (k-12, argE3 hisG4, LeuB6 proA2 thr-1 ara-1 rpsL31 supE44 tsx-33) and GW3733 to use as the positive and negative control respectively.

Fifteen 2 ml cultures, inoculated with approximately 100 to 1000 E. coli, were grown 2×10⁸ cells per ml in LB ampicillin medium at 37° C. ten microliters of each culture were diluted and plated on the LB ampicillin plates to measure the number of viable cells. The rest of the cells from each culture were then concentrated in saline and plated on minimal plates lacking of arginine to measure reversion of Arg⁺. The mean number of mutations per culture (m) was calculated from the median number (r) of mutants per distribution, according to the equation (r/m)−ln(m)=1.24 (Lea et al., J. Genetics 49:264-285 [1949]). Mutation rates per generation were recorded as m/N, with N representing the average number of cells per culture.

Mutation rate Strain (Mutations/cell/generation) AB1157/pQE9 0.22 × 10⁻⁹ GW3733/pQE9  7.5 × 10⁻⁹ GW3733/pQE9hmlhl 0.37 × 10⁻⁹

The functional complementation result showed that the human mutL can fully rescue the E.coli mutL mutator phenotype, suggesting that the human mutL can not only express but also function in bacteria.

EXAMPLE 3 Chromosomal Mapping of the Human Mut L Homolog1

An oligonucleotide primer set was designed according to the sequence at the 5′ end of the cDNA for HMLH1. This primer set would span a 94 bp segment. This primer set was used in a polymerase chain reactionunder the following set of conditions:

30 seconds, 95 degrees C.

1 minute, 56 degrees C.

1 minute, 70 degrees C.

This cycle was repeated 32 times followed by one 5 minute cycle at 70 degrees C. Human, mouse, and hamster DNA were used as template in addition to a somatic cell hybrid panel (Bios, Inc). The reactions were analyzed on either 8% polyacrylamide gels or 3.5% agarose gels. A 94 base pair band was observed in the human genomic DNA sample and in the somatic cell hybrid sample corresponding to chromosome 3. In addition, using various other somatic cell hybrid genomic DNA, the human Mut L homolog HMLH1 was localized to chromosome 3p.

EXAMPLE 4 Method for Determination of Mutation of hMLH1 Gene in HNPCC Kindred

cDNA was produced from RNA obtained from tissue samples from persons who are HNPCC kindred and the cDNA was used as a template for RCA, employing the primers 5′-GCATCTAGACGTTTCCTTGGC-3′ SEQ ID NO:34 and 5′-CATCCAAGCTTCTGTTCCCG-3′allowing amplification of codons 1 to 394 of FIG. 1; 5′-GGGGTGCAGCAGCACATCG-3′ SEQ ID NO:36 and 5′-GGAGGCAGAATGTGTGAGCG-3′ SEQ ID NO:37, allowing amplification of codons, 326 to 279 of FIG. 1; 5′-TCCCAAAGAAGGACTTGCT-3′ SEQ ID NO:38 and 5′-AGTATAAGTCTTAAGTGCTACC-3′ SEQ ID NO:39, allowing amplification of codons 602 to 756 plus 128 nt of 3′-untranslated sequences of FIG. 1.

The PCR conditions for all analyses used consisted of 35 cycles at 95° C. for 30 seconds, 52-58° C. for 60 to 120 seconds, and 70° C. for 60 to 120 seconds, in the buffer solution described in San Sidransky, D. et al., Science, 252:706 (1991). PCR products were sequenced using primers labeled at their 5′ end with T4 polynucleotide kinase, employing SequiTherm Polymerase (Epicentre Technologies). The intron-exon borders of selected exons were also determined and genomic PCR products analyzed to confirm the results. PCR products harboring suspected mutations were then cloned and sequenced to validate the results of the direct sequencing. PCR products were cloned into T-tailed vectors as described in Holton,. T. A. and Graham, M. W., Nucleic Acids Research, 19:1156 (1991) and sequenced with T7 polymerase (United States Biochemical). Affected individuals from seven kindreds all exhibited a heterozygous deletion of codons 578 to 632 of the hMLH1 gene. Thederivation of five of these seven kindreds could be traced to a common ancestor. The genomic sequences surrounding codons 578-632 were determined by cycle-sequencing of the P1 clones (a human genomic P1 library which contains the entire hMLH1 gene (Genome Systems)) using SequiTherm Polymerase, as described by the manufacturer, with the primers were labeled with T4 polynucleotide kinase, and by sequencing PCR products of genomic DNA. The primers used to amplify the exon containing codons 578-632 were 5′-TTTATGGTTTCTCACCTGCC-3′ SEQ ID NO:40 and 5′-GTTATCTGCCCACCTCAGC-3′ SEQ ID NO:41. The PCR product included 105 bp of intron C sequence upstream of the exon and 117 bp downstream. No mutations in the PCR product were observed in the kindreds, so the deletion in the RNA was not due to a simple splice site mutation. Codons 578 to 632 were found to constitute a single exon which was deleted from the gene product in the kindreds described above. This exon contains several highly conserved amino acids.

In a second family (L7), PCR was performed using the above primers and a 4 bp deletion was observed beginning at the first nucleotide (nt) of codon 727. This produced a frame shift with a new stop codon 166 nt downstream, resulting in a substitution of the carboxy-terminal 29 amino acids of hMLH1 with 53 different amino acids, some encoded by nt normally in the 3′ untranslated region.

A different mutation was found in a different kindred (L2516) after PCR using the above primers, the mutation consisting of a 4bp insert between codons 755 and 756. This insertion resulted in a frame shift and extension of the ORF to include 102 nucleotides (34 amino acids) downstream of the normal termination codon. The mutations in both kindreds L7 and L2516 were therefore predicted to alter the C-terminus of hMLH1.

A possible mutation in the hMLH1 gene was determined from alterations in size of the encoded protein, where kindreds were too few for linkage studies. The primers used for coupled transcription-translation of hMLH1 were 5′-GGATCCTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGACCACCTGGCATCTAGACGTTTCCCTTGGC-3′ SEQ ID NO:42 and 5′-CATCCAAGCTTCTGTTCCCG-3′ SEQ ID NO:43 for codons 1 to 394 of FIG. 1 and 5′-GGATCCTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGACCCCATGGGGGTGCAGCAGCACATCG-3′ SEQ ID NO:44 and 5′-GGAGGCAGAATGTGTGAGCG-3′ SEQ ID NO:45 for codons 326 to 729 of FIG. 1. The resultant PCR products had signals for transcription by T7 RNA polymerase and for the initiation of translation at their 5′ ends. RNA from lymphoblastoid cells of patients from 18 kindreds was used to amplify two products, extending from codon 1 to codon 394 or from codon 326 to codon 729, respectively. The PCR products were then transcribed and translated in vitro, making use of transcription-translation signals incorporated into the PCR primers. PCR products were used as templates in coupled transcription-translation reactions performed as described by Powell, S. M. et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 329:1982, (1993), using 40 micro CI of ³⁵S labeled methionine. Samples were diluted in sample buffer, boiled for five minutes and analyzed by electropheresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing a gradient of 10% to 20% acrylamide. The gels were dried and subjected to radiography. All samples exhibited a polypeptide of the expected size, but an abnormally migrating polypeptide was additionally found in one case. The sequence of the relevant PCR product was determined and found to include a 371 bp deletion beginning at the first nt of codon 347. This alteration was present in heterozygous form, and resulted in a frame shift in a new stop codon 30 nt downstream of codon 346, thus explaining the truncated polypeptide observed.

Four colorectal tumor cell lines manifesting microsatellite instability were examined. One of the four (cell line H6) showed no normal peptide in this assay and produced only a short product migrating at 27 kd. The sequence of the corresponding cDNA was determined and found to harbor a C to A transversion at codon 252, resulting in the substitution of a termination codon for serine. In accord with the translational analyses, no band at the normal C position was identified in the cDNA or genomic DNA from this tumor, indicating that it was devoid of a functional hMLH1 gene.

Table 3 sets forth the results of these sequencing assays. Deletions were found in those people who were known to have a family history of the colorectal cancer. More particularly, 9 of 10 families showed an hMLH1 mutation.

TABLE 3 Summary of Mutations in hMLH1 cDNA Nucleotide Predicted Sample Codon Change Coding Change Kindreds 578-632 165 bp deletion In-frame F2, F3, F6, F8, deletion F10, F11, F52 Kindred L7 727/728  4 bp deletion Frameshift and (TCACACATTC to substitution of TCATTCT) new amino acids Kindred 755/756  4 bp insertion Extension of C- L2516 (GTGTTAA to terminus GTGTTTGTTAA) Kindred RA 347 371 bp deletion Frameshift/ Truncation H6 Colorectal 252 Transversion Serine to Stop Tumor (TCA to TAA)

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and therefore within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically described herein.

45 1 2525 DNA homo sapiens CDS (42)..(2312) 1 gttgaacatc tagacgtttc cttggctctt ctggcgccaa a atg tcg ttc gtg gca 56 Met Ser Phe Val Ala 1 5 ggg gtt att cgg cgg ctg gac gag aca gtg gtg aac cgc atc gcg gcg 104 Gly Val Ile Arg Arg Leu Asp Glu Thr Val Val Asn Arg Ile Ala Ala 10 15 20 ggg gaa gtt atc cag cgg cca gct aat gct atc aaa gag atg att gag 152 Gly Glu Val Ile Gln Arg Pro Ala Asn Ala Ile Lys Glu Met Ile Glu 25 30 35 aac tgt tta gat gca aaa tcc aca agt att caa gtg att gtt aaa gag 200 Asn Cys Leu Asp Ala Lys Ser Thr Ser Ile Gln Val Ile Val Lys Glu 40 45 50 gga ggc ctg aag ttg att cag atc caa gac aat ggc acc ggg atc agg 248 Gly Gly Leu Lys Leu Ile Gln Ile Gln Asp Asn Gly Thr Gly Ile Arg 55 60 65 aaa gaa gat ctg gat att gta tgt gaa agg ttc act act agt aaa ctg 296 Lys Glu Asp Leu Asp Ile Val Cys Glu Arg Phe Thr Thr Ser Lys Leu 70 75 80 85 cag tcc ttt gag gat tta gcc agt att tct acc tat ggc ttt cga ggt 344 Gln Ser Phe Glu Asp Leu Ala Ser Ile Ser Thr Tyr Gly Phe Arg Gly 90 95 100 gag gct ttg gcc agc ata agc cat gtg gct cat gtt act att aca acg 392 Glu Ala Leu Ala Ser Ile Ser His Val Ala His Val Thr Ile Thr Thr 105 110 115 aaa aca gct gat gga aag tgt gca tac aga gca agt tac tca gat gga 440 Lys Thr Ala Asp Gly Lys Cys Ala Tyr Arg Ala Ser Tyr Ser Asp Gly 120 125 130 aaa ctg aaa gcc cct cct aaa cca tgt gct ggc aat caa ggg acc cag 488 Lys Leu Lys Ala Pro Pro Lys Pro Cys Ala Gly Asn Gln Gly Thr Gln 135 140 145 atc acg gtg gag gac ctt ttt tac aac ata gcc acg agg aga aaa gct 536 Ile Thr Val Glu Asp Leu Phe Tyr Asn Ile Ala Thr Arg Arg Lys Ala 150 155 160 165 tta aaa aat cca agt gaa gaa tat ggg aaa att ttg gaa gtt gtt ggc 584 Leu Lys Asn Pro Ser Glu Glu Tyr Gly Lys Ile Leu Glu Val Val Gly 170 175 180 agg tat tca gta cac aat gca ggc att agt ttc tca gtt aaa aaa caa 632 Arg Tyr Ser Val His Asn Ala Gly Ile Ser Phe Ser Val Lys Lys Gln 185 190 195 gga gag aca gta gct gat gtt agg aca cta ccc aat gcc tca acc gtg 680 Gly Glu Thr Val Ala Asp Val Arg Thr Leu Pro Asn Ala Ser Thr Val 200 205 210 gac aat att cgc tcc gtc ttt ggg aat gct gtt agt cga gaa ctg ata 728 Asp Asn Ile Arg Ser Val Phe Gly Asn Ala Val Ser Arg Glu Leu Ile 215 220 225 gaa att gga tgt gag gat aaa acc cta gcc ttc aaa atg aat ggt tac 776 Glu Ile Gly Cys Glu Asp Lys Thr Leu Ala Phe Lys Met Asn Gly Tyr 230 235 240 245 ata tcc aat gca aac tac tca gtg aag aag tgc atc ttc tta ctc ttc 824 Ile Ser Asn Ala Asn Tyr Ser Val Lys Lys Cys Ile Phe Leu Leu Phe 250 255 260 atc aac cat cgt ctg gta gaa tca act tcc ttg aga aaa gcc ata gaa 872 Ile Asn His Arg Leu Val Glu Ser Thr Ser Leu Arg Lys Ala Ile Glu 265 270 275 aca gtg tat gca gcc tat ttg ccc aaa aac aca cac cca ttc ctg tac 920 Thr Val Tyr Ala Ala Tyr Leu Pro Lys Asn Thr His Pro Phe Leu Tyr 280 285 290 ctc agt tta gaa atc agt ccc cag aat gtg gat gtt aat gtg cac ccc 968 Leu Ser Leu Glu Ile Ser Pro Gln Asn Val Asp Val Asn Val His Pro 295 300 305 aca aag cat gaa gtt cac ttc ctg cac gag gag agc atc ctg gag cgg 1016 Thr Lys His Glu Val His Phe Leu His Glu Glu Ser Ile Leu Glu Arg 310 315 320 325 gtg cag cag cac atc gag agc aag ctc ctg ggc tcc aat tcc tcc agg 1064 Val Gln Gln His Ile Glu Ser Lys Leu Leu Gly Ser Asn Ser Ser Arg 330 335 340 atg tac ttc acc cag act ttg cta cca gga ctt gct gcc ccc tct ggg 1112 Met Tyr Phe Thr Gln Thr Leu Leu Pro Gly Leu Ala Ala Pro Ser Gly 345 350 355 gag atg gtt aaa tcc aca aca agt ctg acc tcg tct tct act tct gga 1160 Glu Met Val Lys Ser Thr Thr Ser Leu Thr Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Gly 360 365 370 agt agt gat aag gtc tat gcc cac cag atg gtt cgt aca gat tcc cgg 1208 Ser Ser Asp Lys Val Tyr Ala His Gln Met Val Arg Thr Asp Ser Arg 375 380 385 gaa cag aag ctt gat gca ttt ctg cag cct ctg agc aaa ccc ctg tcc 1256 Glu Gln Lys Leu Asp Ala Phe Leu Gln Pro Leu Ser Lys Pro Leu Ser 390 395 400 405 agt cag ccc cag gcc att gtc aca gag gat aag aca gat att tct agt 1304 Ser Gln Pro Gln Ala Ile Val Thr Glu Asp Lys Thr Asp Ile Ser Ser 410 415 420 ggc agg gct agg cag caa gat gag gag atg ctt gaa ctc cca gcc cct 1352 Gly Arg Ala Arg Gln Gln Asp Glu Glu Met Leu Glu Leu Pro Ala Pro 425 430 435 gct gaa gtg gct gcc aaa aat cag agc ttg gag ggg gat aca aca aag 1400 Ala Glu Val Ala Ala Lys Asn Gln Ser Leu Glu Gly Asp Thr Thr Lys 440 445 450 ggg act tca gaa atg tca gag aag aga gga cct act tcc agc aac ccc 1448 Gly Thr Ser Glu Met Ser Glu Lys Arg Gly Pro Thr Ser Ser Asn Pro 455 460 465 aga aag aga cat cgg gaa gat tct gat gtg gaa atg gtg gaa gat gat 1496 Arg Lys Arg His Arg Glu Asp Ser Asp Val Glu Met Val Glu Asp Asp 470 475 480 485 tcc cga aag gaa atg act gca gct tgt acc ccc cgg aga agg atc att 1544 Ser Arg Lys Glu Met Thr Ala Ala Cys Thr Pro Arg Arg Arg Ile Ile 490 495 500 aac ctc act agt gtt ttg agt ctc cag gaa gaa att aat gag cag gga 1592 Asn Leu Thr Ser Val Leu Ser Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile Asn Glu Gln Gly 505 510 515 cat gag gtt ctc cgg gag atg ttg cat aac cac tcc ttc gtg ggc tgt 1640 His Glu Val Leu Arg Glu Met Leu His Asn His Ser Phe Val Gly Cys 520 525 530 gtg aat cct cag tgg gcc ttg gca cag cat caa acc aag tta tac ctt 1688 Val Asn Pro Gln Trp Ala Leu Ala Gln His Gln Thr Lys Leu Tyr Leu 535 540 545 ctc aac acc acc aag ctt agt gaa gaa ctg ttc tac cag ata ctc att 1736 Leu Asn Thr Thr Lys Leu Ser Glu Glu Leu Phe Tyr Gln Ile Leu Ile 550 555 560 565 tat gat ttt gcc aat ttt ggt gtt ctc agg tta tcg gag cca gca ccg 1784 Tyr Asp Phe Ala Asn Phe Gly Val Leu Arg Leu Ser Glu Pro Ala Pro 570 575 580 ctc ttt gac ctt gcc atg ctt gcc tta gat agt cca gag agt ggc tgg 1832 Leu Phe Asp Leu Ala Met Leu Ala Leu Asp Ser Pro Glu Ser Gly Trp 585 590 595 aca gag gaa gat ggt ccc aaa gaa gga ctt gct gaa tac att gtt gag 1880 Thr Glu Glu Asp Gly Pro Lys Glu Gly Leu Ala Glu Tyr Ile Val Glu 600 605 610 ttt ctg aag aag aag gct gag atg ctt gca gac tat ttc tct ttg gaa 1928 Phe Leu Lys Lys Lys Ala Glu Met Leu Ala Asp Tyr Phe Ser Leu Glu 615 620 625 att gat gag gaa ggg aac ctg att gga tta ccc ctt ctg att gac aac 1976 Ile Asp Glu Glu Gly Asn Leu Ile Gly Leu Pro Leu Leu Ile Asp Asn 630 635 640 645 tat gtg ccc cct ttg gag gga ctg cct atc ttc att ctt cga cta gcc 2024 Tyr Val Pro Pro Leu Glu Gly Leu Pro Ile Phe Ile Leu Arg Leu Ala 650 655 660 act gag gtg aat tgg gac gaa gaa aag gaa tgt ttt gaa agc ctc agt 2072 Thr Glu Val Asn Trp Asp Glu Glu Lys Glu Cys Phe Glu Ser Leu Ser 665 670 675 aaa gaa tgc gct atg ttc tat tcc atc cgg aag cag tac ata tct gag 2120 Lys Glu Cys Ala Met Phe Tyr Ser Ile Arg Lys Gln Tyr Ile Ser Glu 680 685 690 gag tcg acc ctc tca ggc cag cag agt gaa gtg cct ggc tcc att cca 2168 Glu Ser Thr Leu Ser Gly Gln Gln Ser Glu Val Pro Gly Ser Ile Pro 695 700 705 aac tcc tgg aag tgg act gtg gaa cac att gtc tat aaa gcc ttg cgc 2216 Asn Ser Trp Lys Trp Thr Val Glu His Ile Val Tyr Lys Ala Leu Arg 710 715 720 725 tca cac att ctg cct cct aaa cat ttc aca gaa gat gga aat atc ctg 2264 Ser His Ile Leu Pro Pro Lys His Phe Thr Glu Asp Gly Asn Ile Leu 730 735 740 cag ctt gct aac ctg cct gat cta tac aaa gtc ttt gag agg tgt taa 2312 Gln Leu Ala Asn Leu Pro Asp Leu Tyr Lys Val Phe Glu Arg Cys 745 750 755 atatggttat ttatgcactg tgggatgtgt tcttctttct ctgtattccg atacaaagtg 2372 ttgtatcaaa gtgtgatata caaagtgtac caacataagt gttggtagca cttaagactt 2432 atacttgcct tctgatagta ttcctttata cacagtggat tgattataaa taaatagatg 2492 tgtcttaaca taaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaa 2525 2 756 PRT homo sapiens 2 Met Ser Phe Val Ala Gly Val Ile Arg Arg Leu Asp Glu Thr Val Val 1 5 10 15 Asn Arg Ile Ala Ala Gly Glu Val Ile Gln Arg Pro Ala Asn Ala Ile 20 25 30 Lys Glu Met Ile Glu Asn Cys Leu Asp Ala Lys Ser Thr Ser Ile Gln 35 40 45 Val Ile Val Lys Glu Gly Gly Leu Lys Leu Ile Gln Ile Gln Asp Asn 50 55 60 Gly Thr Gly Ile Arg Lys Glu Asp Leu Asp Ile Val Cys Glu Arg Phe 65 70 75 80 Thr Thr Ser Lys Leu Gln Ser Phe Glu Asp Leu Ala Ser Ile Ser Thr 85 90 95 Tyr Gly Phe Arg Gly Glu Ala Leu Ala Ser Ile Ser His Val Ala His 100 105 110 Val Thr Ile Thr Thr Lys Thr Ala Asp Gly Lys Cys Ala Tyr Arg Ala 115 120 125 Ser Tyr Ser Asp Gly Lys Leu Lys Ala Pro Pro Lys Pro Cys Ala Gly 130 135 140 Asn Gln Gly Thr Gln Ile Thr Val Glu Asp Leu Phe Tyr Asn Ile Ala 145 150 155 160 Thr Arg Arg Lys Ala Leu Lys Asn Pro Ser Glu Glu Tyr Gly Lys Ile 165 170 175 Leu Glu Val Val Gly Arg Tyr Ser Val His Asn Ala Gly Ile Ser Phe 180 185 190 Ser Val Lys Lys Gln Gly Glu Thr Val Ala Asp Val Arg Thr Leu Pro 195 200 205 Asn Ala Ser Thr Val Asp Asn Ile Arg Ser Val Phe Gly Asn Ala Val 210 215 220 Ser Arg Glu Leu Ile Glu Ile Gly Cys Glu Asp Lys Thr Leu Ala Phe 225 230 235 240 Lys Met Asn Gly Tyr Ile Ser Asn Ala Asn Tyr Ser Val Lys Lys Cys 245 250 255 Ile Phe Leu Leu Phe Ile Asn His Arg Leu Val Glu Ser Thr Ser Leu 260 265 270 Arg Lys Ala Ile Glu Thr Val Tyr Ala Ala Tyr Leu Pro Lys Asn Thr 275 280 285 His Pro Phe Leu Tyr Leu Ser Leu Glu Ile Ser Pro Gln Asn Val Asp 290 295 300 Val Asn Val His Pro Thr Lys His Glu Val His Phe Leu His Glu Glu 305 310 315 320 Ser Ile Leu Glu Arg Val Gln Gln His Ile Glu Ser Lys Leu Leu Gly 325 330 335 Ser Asn Ser Ser Arg Met Tyr Phe Thr Gln Thr Leu Leu Pro Gly Leu 340 345 350 Ala Ala Pro Ser Gly Glu Met Val Lys Ser Thr Thr Ser Leu Thr Ser 355 360 365 Ser Ser Thr Ser Gly Ser Ser Asp Lys Val Tyr Ala His Gln Met Val 370 375 380 Arg Thr Asp Ser Arg Glu Gln Lys Leu Asp Ala Phe Leu Gln Pro Leu 385 390 395 400 Ser Lys Pro Leu Ser Ser Gln Pro Gln Ala Ile Val Thr Glu Asp Lys 405 410 415 Thr Asp Ile Ser Ser Gly Arg Ala Arg Gln Gln Asp Glu Glu Met Leu 420 425 430 Glu Leu Pro Ala Pro Ala Glu Val Ala Ala Lys Asn Gln Ser Leu Glu 435 440 445 Gly Asp Thr Thr Lys Gly Thr Ser Glu Met Ser Glu Lys Arg Gly Pro 450 455 460 Thr Ser Ser Asn Pro Arg Lys Arg His Arg Glu Asp Ser Asp Val Glu 465 470 475 480 Met Val Glu Asp Asp Ser Arg Lys Glu Met Thr Ala Ala Cys Thr Pro 485 490 495 Arg Arg Arg Ile Ile Asn Leu Thr Ser Val Leu Ser Leu Gln Glu Glu 500 505 510 Ile Asn Glu Gln Gly His Glu Val Leu Arg Glu Met Leu His Asn His 515 520 525 Ser Phe Val Gly Cys Val Asn Pro Gln Trp Ala Leu Ala Gln His Gln 530 535 540 Thr Lys Leu Tyr Leu Leu Asn Thr Thr Lys Leu Ser Glu Glu Leu Phe 545 550 555 560 Tyr Gln Ile Leu Ile Tyr Asp Phe Ala Asn Phe Gly Val Leu Arg Leu 565 570 575 Ser Glu Pro Ala Pro Leu Phe Asp Leu Ala Met Leu Ala Leu Asp Ser 580 585 590 Pro Glu Ser Gly Trp Thr Glu Glu Asp Gly Pro Lys Glu Gly Leu Ala 595 600 605 Glu Tyr Ile Val Glu Phe Leu Lys Lys Lys Ala Glu Met Leu Ala Asp 610 615 620 Tyr Phe Ser Leu Glu Ile Asp Glu Glu Gly Asn Leu Ile Gly Leu Pro 625 630 635 640 Leu Leu Ile Asp Asn Tyr Val Pro Pro Leu Glu Gly Leu Pro Ile Phe 645 650 655 Ile Leu Arg Leu Ala Thr Glu Val Asn Trp Asp Glu Glu Lys Glu Cys 660 665 670 Phe Glu Ser Leu Ser Lys Glu Cys Ala Met Phe Tyr Ser Ile Arg Lys 675 680 685 Gln Tyr Ile Ser Glu Glu Ser Thr Leu Ser Gly Gln Gln Ser Glu Val 690 695 700 Pro Gly Ser Ile Pro Asn Ser Trp Lys Trp Thr Val Glu His Ile Val 705 710 715 720 Tyr Lys Ala Leu Arg Ser His Ile Leu Pro Pro Lys His Phe Thr Glu 725 730 735 Asp Gly Asn Ile Leu Gln Leu Ala Asn Leu Pro Asp Leu Tyr Lys Val 740 745 750 Phe Glu Arg Cys 755 3 327 DNA Homo sapiens misc feature (45) n equals a,t,g, or c 3 tggctgcttg cggctagtgg atggtaattg cctgcctcgc gctanagcaa gctgctctgt 60 taaaagcgaa aatgaaacaa ttgcctgcgg caacagttcg actcctttca agttctcaga 120 tcatcacttc ggtggtcagt gttgtaaaag agcttattga aaactccttg gatgctggtg 180 ccacaagcgt agatgttaaa ctggagaact atggatttga taaaattgag gtncgagata 240 acggggaggg tatcaaggct gtttatgcac ctgtaatggc aatgaagtac tacacctcaa 300 aattaaatta gtcatgatga tcttgaa 327 4 311 DNA Homo sapiens 4 ccgaggcgga tcgggtgttg catccatgga gcgagctgag agctcgagta cagaacctgc 60 taaggccatc aaacctattg atcggaagtc agtccatcag atttgctctg ggcaggtggt 120 actgagtcta agcactgcgg taaaggagtt agtagaaaac agtctggatg ctggtgccac 180 taatattgat ctaaagctta aggactatgg agtggatctt attgaagttt cagacaatgg 240 atgtggggta gaagaagaaa acttcgaagg cttaactctg aaacatcaca catctaagat 300 tcaagagttt t 311 5 20 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 5 gttgaacatc tagacgtctc 20 6 19 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 6 tcgtggcagg ggttattcg 19 7 19 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 7 ctacccaatg cctcaaccg 19 8 22 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 8 gagaactgat agaaattgga tg 22 9 18 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 9 gggacatgag gttctccg 18 10 19 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 10 gggctgtgtg aatcctcag 19 11 20 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 11 cggttcacca ctgtctcgtc 20 12 18 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 12 tccaggatgc tctcctcg 18 13 20 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 13 caagtcctgg tagcaaagtc 20 14 19 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 14 atggcaaggt caaagagcg 19 15 22 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 15 caacaatgta ttcagnaagt cc 22 16 21 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 16 ttgatacaac actttgtatc g 21 17 21 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 17 ggaatactat cagaaggcaa g 21 18 21 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 18 acagagcaag ttactcagat g 21 19 21 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 19 agtacacaat gcaggcatta g 21 20 21 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 20 aatgtggatg ttaatgtgca c 21 21 18 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 21 ctgacctcgt cttcctac 18 22 19 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 22 cagcaagatg aggagatgc 19 23 21 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 23 ggaaatggtg gaagatgatt c 21 24 16 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 24 cttctcaaca ccaagc 16 25 21 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 25 gaaattgatg aggaagggaa c 21 26 22 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 26 cttctgattg acaactatgt gc 22 27 22 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 27 cacagaagat ggaaatatcc tg 22 28 20 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 sense primer 28 gtgttggtag cacttaagac 20 29 20 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 29 tttcccatat tcttcacttg 20 30 19 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 30 gtaacatgag ccacatggc 19 31 19 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 antisense primer 31 ccactgtctc gtccagccg 19 32 26 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 5′ primer with BamHI restriction site 32 cgggatccat gtcgttcgtg gcaggg 26 33 26 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 3′ primer with XbaI restriction site 33 gctctagatt aacacctctc aaagac 26 34 21 DNA Artificial Sequence hMLH1 primer useful for amplifying codons 1 to 394 34 gcatctagac gtttccttgg c 21 35 20 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 1 to 394 of hMLH1 35 catccaagct tctgttcccg 20 36 19 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 326 to 729 of hMLH1 36 ggggtgcagc agcacatcg 19 37 20 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 326 to 729 of hMLH1 37 ggaggcagaa tgtgtgagcg 20 38 19 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 602 to 756 plus 128 nucleotides of 3′ untranslated sequence of hMLH1 38 tcccaaagaa ggacttgct 19 39 22 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 602 to 756 plus 128 nucleotides of 3′ untranslated sequence of hMLH1 39 agtataagtc ttaagtgcta cc 22 40 20 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 578 to 632 of hMLH1 40 tttatggttt ctcacctgcc 20 41 19 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 578 to 632 of hMLH1 41 gttatctgcc cacctcagc 19 42 59 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 1 to 394 of hMLH1 wherein PCR product may be used for coupled transcription-translation 42 ggatcctaat acgactcact atagggagac caccatggca tctagacgtt tcccttggc 59 43 20 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 1 to 394 of hMLH1 wherein PCR product may be used for coupled transcription-translation 43 catccaagct tctgttcccg 20 44 56 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 326 to 729 of hMLH1 wherein PCR product may be used for coupled transcription-translation 44 ggatcctaat acgactcact atagggagac caccatgggg gtgcagcagc acatcg 56 45 20 DNA Artificial Sequence primer useful for amplifying codons 326 to 729 of hMLH1 wherein PCR product may be used for coupled transcription-translation 45 ggaggcagaa tgtgtgagcg 20 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a first nucleotide sequence that is at least 97% identical to a second nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids +1 to +756 of SEQ ID NO:2; and (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding a fragment of the polypeptide sequence set forth SEQ ID NO:2 wherein the fragment has mismatch repair activity; wherein said first nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide that has DNA mismatch repair activity.
 2. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said second nucleotide sequence is (a).
 3. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein said second nucleotide sequence comprises nucleotides +42 to +2309 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 4. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 2 further comprising a heterologous polynucleotide.
 5. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 4, wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes a heterologous polypeptide.
 6. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 2. 7. A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 2 operably associated with a heterologous regulatory sequence.
 8. A method of producing a polypqtide comprising: (a) culturing the host cell of claim 7 under conditions such that the polypeptide is expressed; and (b) recovering said polypeptide.
 9. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said second nucleotide sequence is (b).
 10. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 9 further comprising a heterologous polynucleotide.
 11. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 10, wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes a heterologous polypeptide.
 12. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 9. 13. A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 9 operably associated with a heterologous regulatory sequence.
 14. A method of producing a polypeptide comprising: (a) culturing the host cell of claim 13 under conditions such that the polypeptide is expressed; and (b) recovering said polypeptide.
 15. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a first nucleotide sequence that is at least 97% identical to a second nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding the full-length polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC Deposit No. 75649; and (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding a fragment of the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC Deposit No. 75649 wherein the fragment has mismatch repair activity.
 16. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 15, wherein said second nucleotide sequence is (a).
 17. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 16, wherein said second nucleotide sequence comprises the open-reading frame of the cDNA contained in ATCC Deposit No.
 75649. 18. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 16 further comprising a heterologous polynucleotide.
 19. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 18, wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes a heterologous polypeptide.
 20. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 16. 21. A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 16 operably associated with a heterologous regulatory sequence.
 22. A method of producing a polypeptide comprising: (a) culturing the host cell of claim 21 under conditions such that the polypeptide is expressed; and (b) recovering said polypeptide.
 23. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 15, wherein said second nucleotide sequence is (b).
 24. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 23 further comprising a heterologous polynucleotide.
 25. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 24, wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes a heterologous polypeptide.
 26. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 23. 27. A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 23 operably associated with a heterologous regulatory sequence.
 28. A method of producing a polypeptide comprising: (a) culturing the host cell of claim 27 under conditions such that the polypeptide is expressed; and (b) recovering said polypeptide.
 29. An isolated nucleic acid molecule that is fully complementary to the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 30. An isolated nucleic acid molecule that is fully complementary to the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 15. 